Canada, Philippines deepen military ties with new joint forces pact amid China concerns

The deal is mutually beneficial to both countries, particularly as Canada moves out from under the US’ shadow in the region, analysts say

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Philippine Navy personnel watch a Canadian vessel during the joint exercises in the South China Sea last year. Photo: Public Affairs Office Armed Forces of the Philippines/AP

Published: 2:09pm, 31 Oct 2025Updated: 5:28pm, 31 Oct 2025

The Philippines and Canada are set to sign a visiting forces agreement permitting joint drills and troop deployments on each other’s soil amid China’s expanding regional influence.

Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty will be in Manila on Sunday to hold bilateral meetings with Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr and sign the agreement, according to an advisory released by the Philippine Department of National Defence on Wednesday.

The signing of the agreement follows steps by Manila and Ottawa to deepen their security relations since sealing a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation in January last year.

Cooperation between the two “has expanded both in breadth and depth across all areas of defence, especially in maritime security, cybersecurity and capacity building”, said a Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs statement in April.

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty (left) and Prime Minister Mark Carney tour the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard on Geoje island, South Korea, on Thursday. Photo: The Canadian Press/AP

Analysts view the pact as a logical next step in deepening defence ties between the Philippines and Canada amid mutual concern about China’s growing military presence in the region.

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Canada, Philippines deepen military ties with new joint forces pact amid China concerns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The deal is mutually beneficial to both countries, particularly as Canada moves out from under the US’ shadow in the region, analysts say

The deal is mutually beneficial to both countries, particularly as Canada moves out from under the US’ shadow in the region, analysts say